stirckler



N0. 608,0!2. Patented July 26, I898. A. E. STIRCKLER.

GRIPPING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1898.)

(No Model.)

ms NORRIS PETERS co, mm'uuma, msmuawm o. c.

Amt Prion.

ALBERT E. STIROKLER, OF NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

GRIPPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,012, dated July 26,1898.

Application filed March 26, 1898. Serial No. 675,318. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LALBERTEDWARD STIRcK- LER, engineer, a citizen of theUnited States,

and a resident of 26 Billing road, Northampton, in the county ofNorthampton, England, have invented new and useful Improvements inGripping Apparatus, which invention is fully set forth in the followingspecification. My invention has for its object to provide an .improvedgripping apparatus intended more particularly for gripping or a holdingthe uppers of boots and shoes while being lasted, but which isapplicable also for gripping or holding other articles or materials. Forexample, the apparatus may be applied for gripping or holding fabrics intentering and finishing machines or as Vises or like gripping devicesfor holding articles.

Apparatus constructed according to my invention consists of acombination comprising a fixed or stationary jaw and a movable jaw,between which the material or article can be securely held, alever-handle for operating the movable jaw, a blade or bow springconnecting the movable jaw to the operatinglever handle, and a helicalspring acting in combination with the blade or bow spring to securelygrip or hold the material or article vice, on which is arranged to slidelongitudinally the movable jaw B, which is connected at c to one end ofa blade or bow spring 0, the opposite end of which spring is connectedto the stem or shank of the operating-lever handle D by a stud or pin d,capable of slid ing longitudinally in a slot cl in the stem or shank ofthe said operating-lever. The operating-lever handle is pivoted at b tolugs or ears I), projecting from the fixed or stationaryjawB at a pointsituated (when the jaws are in action) between the opposite ends a and dof the blade or bow spring 0. Interposed between the pin 5, on which thelever D turns and the end cl of the blade or bow spring 0 is a helicalspring E, the said spring O surrounding the shank or stem of theleverhandle. and bearing at one end on the end d v out or flattened moreor less, according to the the thickness of the article gripped betweenthe jaws, and the helical spring E being at the same time more or lesscompressed, according to the thickness of the article placed between thejaws, whereby the pressure of both springs O and E is exerted on themovable jaw B to securely hold the material placed between the jaws Aand B.

In the shank or stem of the lever-handle D there may be screwed a nut D,as shown in Fig. 4, against which nut one end of the helical spring Ebears, so that by screwing this nut along the stem or shank the power ofthe spring may be regulated as required.

The point of connection a of the bow or blade spring 0 to the movablejaw B is situated out of line with the center 19, on which the lever Dturns, so that when the lever D is turned to its full extent to grip anarticle between the jaws the said jaws cannot accidentally separate torelease the article from the grip of the jaws.

I claim- 1. A gripping apparatus comprising a stationary jaw and amovable jaw slidable thereon, a lever-handle hinged or pivoted to thestationary jawga blade or bow spring connected at one end to the movablejaw and at its other end to a. connection slidable on the stem or shankof the lever-handle; a helical spring hearing at one end on the slidableconnection to which the blade-spring is attached, the opposite end ofthe said helical. spring bearing on a shoulder on the shank or stem ofthe lever-handle the whole being combined so that bythe movement oi thelever-handle in one direction the combined power of blade or bow springand the helical spring is exerted on the movable jaw so as to firmlyhold an article placed between the stationary and movable jawssubstantially as hereinbefore described.

2. A gripping apparatus comprising a stationary jaw and a-movable jawslidable thereon, a lever-handle hinged or pivoted to the stationaryjaw; a blade or bow spring connected at one end to the movable jaw andat its other end to a connection slidable on the lever-handle; a helicalspring surrounding the stem or shank of the lever-handle and bearing atone end against the slidable connection to which the blade-spring isattached and at its opposite end on a nut screwed onto the shank or stemof the lever-handle, the

said nut being capable of being screwed along the said stem or shank soas to compress more or less the helical spring to regulate the powerthereof substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specificationin the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

A. E. STIROKLER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM FREDERICK UPToN, HENRY DENIS HISKINS.

